Description: What happens to a holy soul during the “dark night”? Today, Dan, Melissa and Dr. Anthony Lilles explore the meaning of the “dark night of the soul” and St. Thérèse's experience transitioning to a deeper union with God.
Topics/Questions covered in the show:
How is St. Thérèse's description of “the dark night of the soul” similar to that of St. John of the Cross?
What are... Read More

Introducing Discovery Prayer or Lectio Divina
Description: This week Dan and Melissa provide the layout for a successful experience in prayer by introducing discovery prayer, also known as Lectio Divina.
Topics/Questions covered in the show:
The spiritual Doctors of the Church describe mental prayer as being essential to a successful prayer life.
By praying discovery prayer with the Gospels, one will encounter Christ,... Read More

Wisdom on Mental Prayer
30 Days with Teresa of Avila – Reflections on Day 8
“Do not tire your brain by trying to work it during meditation.” – St. Teresa of Avila. Dan and Melissa look at progressive development in prayer and the spiritual life as they reflect on letters from St. Teresa in the book 30 Days with Teresa of Avila and her wisdom on mental prayer.
Topics/Questions covered in the show:
How do... Read More

Dear Father John, I understand that demons hate God, but they also suffer from being separated from Him. Is it possible that a demon could repent, and accept God as we can?
The Catechism gives a direct answer to this question, so let’s start there. I will quote the four numbers in full, since they give an excellent summary of what we know about demons. It is located in the section discussing original sin:
391 Behind the disobedient... Read More

The Life of Prayer: the sure path to freedom
Christian prayer is a simple movement of the soul towards God. It is a movement of love, by which we cling to Him with the boldness of faith, trusting in his loving kindness. This movement of love is also a conversation, a heart to heart, in which He listens to all our concerns with the greatest of interest and in which He also shares the concerns of his heart with us. He actually... Read More

I am a list-maker, an excessive post-it user, an organizational app connoisseur. I love the stability that organization provides. It's really the only way I can keep track of all of my commitments. This aspect of my personality, although wonderful for an ordered, balanced secular life, creates little stumbling blocks for me in my spiritual life. Learning to “let go and let God” is a constant struggle for me, since... Read More

Prayer to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots
O Virgin Mary,
Mother who never refuses to come to the help of your children in need,
Mother whose hands never stop working for the welfare of your children,
moved as they are by the loving mercy and kindness that exists in your Immaculate Heart,
cast your compassionate and merciful eyes on me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life.
Oh Mother! You know the difficulties, sorrow and... Read More

Catechism of the Catholic Church on Vocal Prayer
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 2704
Because it is external and so thoroughly human, vocal prayer is the form of prayer most readily accessible to groups. Even interior prayer, however, cannot neglect vocal prayer. Prayer is internalized to the extent that we become aware of him “to whom we speak;”4 Thus vocal prayer becomes an initial form of contemplative... Read More

What is Prayer?
Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 534
Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God, or the petition of good things from Him in accord with His will. It is always the gift of God who comes to encounter man. Christian prayer is the personal and living relationship of the Children of God with their Father who is infinitely good, with His Son Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit... Read More

Contemplative Prayer – Catechism Paragraph 2719
Contemplative prayer is a communion of love bearing Life for the multitude, to the extent that it consents to abide in the night of faith. The Paschal night of the Resurrection passes through the night of the agony and the tomb – the three intense moments of the Hour of Jesus which his Spirit (and not “the flesh [which] is weak”) brings to life in prayer. We... Read More

Dan Burke and Melissa Elson reflect on the meditations of Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen regarding blind obedience. The post Reflecting on Blind Obedience appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.

Dan Burke and Melissa Elson speak with Dr. Holly Ordway about her contribution to the book "From Atheism to Catholicism" to find out what drew her to the Catholic Church. The post From Atheism to Catholicism appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.

Dan Burke and Melissa Elson reflect on the meditations of Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen and the meaning of true glory. The post The Meaning of True Glory appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.